Facilitating engineering analysis via a graphical database

Graphical user interface (GUI) environments such as Microsoft Windows have sparked interest in the development of “visual” applications. Visual applications promote intuitive display and entry of program data. This paper describes a unique Windows application that enables an engineer to draw a one-line diagram, interactively enter system parameters, and then save this data to a power systems database. This innovative method of “visually” entering data and viewing power systems analysis results is a significant aid to traditional analysis techniques. In addition, the application makes extensive use of Windows features which enhance the robustness of the software from both the developer´s and user´s viewpoint